Apparatus for dispensing detergent

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing detergent into a toilet cistern includes a container, a membrane, a floating body, and a casing. The membrane has two sides that face an entrance of the container and are connected with the floating body, respectively. The floating body is surrounded by the casing, which in turn is connected to the entrance of the container. The floating body is movable up and down within the casing and moves according to a buoyant force due to the water level in the cistern resulting in a variation of the pressure difference inside and outside the container. Thus a well-defined quantity of cleaning liquid is released from the container, as determined by the movement of the membrane.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A detergent dispensing apparatus, mounted in a cistern of a toilet containing water with a water level, said detergent dispensing apparatus comprising: 
       a container, storing liquid detergent, having a lower end with an entrance;  
       a membrane, having an upper side, facing said container, a lower side with a central, downward extending projection, a relatively thick periphery as a reinforcement and one or several holes between said projection and said periphery, said membrane at said periphery being mounted on said entrance of said container;  
       a floating body, shaped like a cup turned upside down, having a lower end and a cone-shaped top area which is connected with said projection of said membrane; and  
       a casing, having an upper end with an inner thread which is mounted on said entrance of said container, a peripheral wall with ventilating holes close to said upper end, and a bottom with a central outlet hole and an upward extending positioning ring, said floating body being accommodated inside said peripheral wall, with said lower end thereof outside said positioning ring, and with a buffer space left between said peripheral wall and said floating body;  
       wherein said floating body is pushed upward when said cistern is refilled with water, bending said membrane upward, resulting in a certain quantity of detergent flowing out of said container.  
     
     
       2. A detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein said top area of said floating body has a central depression into which said projection fits. 
     
     
       3. A detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein said membrane is made of a material that is soft and resistant against chemical substances. 
     
     
       4. A detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein said container has horizontal holding grooves which partly or completely run around said container. 
     
     
       5. A detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim  4 , further comprising a mounting device, having a holding ring and a clasp, wherein, for mounting said detergent dispensing apparatus at a desired vertical position within said cistern, said holding ring is put around one of said holding grooves that is suitable with regard to said vertical position and said clasp is set on a wall of said cistern.